Cigarette package container



Jan. 2, 1951 E. s. CALDWELL CIGARETTE PACKAGE CONTAINER Filed July 1'7, 1948 w. w w

manufacture, and the like.

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward S. Caldwell, Chicago, Ill. Application July 17, 1948, Serial No. 39,248

v 7 Claims.

My invention relates to containers which are adapted to hold a package of cigarettes, such as the conventional or standard packages, and which also serve to hold the usual paper packets of matches or books of matches as they are frequently called.

While containers for holding packages of cigarettes, with orwithout packages of matches, have heretofore been devised, all of them, so far as I am aware, have been characterized by one or more disadvantages as, for example, undesirability of appearance, relatively high cost of In accordance with my invention, a container for cigarettes, particularly cigarettes and matches, has been evolved which provides not only a highly attractive ap- 'pearance but, in addition, is of such simplicity in design that it may be manufactured in large volume and at very low cost. This enables it not only to be sold to the user for a minimum price but, also, it makes readily feasible the distribution thereofas advertising media gratis to the user. The container may be embellished in any desired manner and may have printed thereon the name of the proprietor of any establishment as, for example, a restaurant. Being low in cost, as pointed out above, said containers may be distributed gratis by such restaurant to its customers or prospective customers. Whenever a cigarette is removed from its package within the container, the user will have his attention M d rected to the name of the restaurant. This is illustrative of one manner of distribution of the container forming the basis for my present invention and it will be apparent that many other ways will suggest themselves to those versed in the art in the light of the low costs involved in the manufacture of such containers.

The invention will be readily understood in the light of the accompanying drawing and the following description in conjunction therewith wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention is set out in detail.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container made in accordance with my invention showing the manner of supporting a match book therein, said v Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the con-f tainer in incompletely assembled form but gen erally showing the manner in which the two blanks forming said container are assembled;

Figs. 6 and 7 are the two blanks from which the container is assembled. As shown in the drawings, the container is made from two blanks A and B', shown, respectively, in Figs. 6 and '7, made 'from a flexible thermoplastic material such as a vinyl resin, a cellulose acetate resin or any other' fiexibl thermoplastic sheet material.

The blank A comprises an intermediate rec tangular portion I9. Extending from one end of said portion I6 is an elongated match book cover-'- forming flap member II which, when in fully assembled condition, provides the bottom of the container and also provides the cover flap for the pocket for housing the match book. The free end l2 of said flap member II is: arcuate-shaped and is provided With an aperture l3 through which is passed the male portion M of a standard snap closure. I Extending from the other end' of said portion I0 is a cover-forming flap l5 which provides the top of the cigarette package and also the closure flap. The free end E6 of said flap member I5 is arcuate-shaped and is provided with an aperture I! through which passes the female portion I8 of the snap closure. I

The member I I is longer than the member In and the latter, in turn, is longer than the member 15. For the standard size package containing twenty cigarettes, I find it quite satisfactory for the member II to be about 3%; inches in length, the member III to be about 2% inches in length, and the member IE to be about 1% inches in length. As to width, it will be noted that the member I0 is slightly wider than the members H and I5. Themembers H and 15 are conveniently about 21/4 inches wide and the member ID somewhat wider, for example, about 2%; inches in width. The extra. width in the member 10 serves to provide'side extensions [9 and 2! for the purpose describe'dhereafter.

The blank B, which comprises the cigarette package-forming pocket member, is made up of a generally rectangular sheet but one side-22 is double-arcuate in shap havinglacentrally disposed depressed portion 23 andbelow which disposed an aperture 24 through-which the male portion M of the snap closure passes. The length of said blank B corresponds to the length of the side extensions I9 and 2| and the; width of said blank B is sufficiently greater ;--than the width of member In so that, in assembled form, a pocket is provided of a size snugly to house a cigarette through said electrodes serves to melt the inner surfaces of the thermoplastic material and to effect sealing or welding to form seams 26 and 2'! which are exceedingly strong and resistant to tear. trodes, are not marred in the sealing process.

The flap member I I is then folded upwardly un-] til the apertures 13 and 24 are alined and the male portion 14- of the snap fastener is. passed through saidapertures. The female portion I8 of saidsnap fastener is then mounted through saidaperture [1. It. will be understood, of course, that the female portion E8; of said snap; fastener may first be attached to-thefiap l5 and the flap .-l i| foldedover andassembled as described above. Itwillbe seen, therefore, that, after the eontainer-is; assembled, a cigarette package'28 may be placed. in the pocket formed by members I and Il and blank B and a packet. of matches 29 may be inserted in the space formed between the outsidesurface-of blank B and the inside surface ofmember ll. When the cover fiap i is closed, a neat compact package results. pointed out that thecurvature of the side 22 is such; that it abuts firmly against the cover flap I5; when the latter is in closed position so as to ,form a. relatively tight closure to prevent leakeeeofloose to cc Containers. made in accordance with my invention; also possess the advantage of protects ing the contents thereof from perspiration. They possess a very slight adhesion to cloth and, therefore, they do not have the tendency to fall out of the pocket of a workmans shirt orthe like despite frequent bending 0r stooping. They are light in weight and, being flexible, they have a long life and; maybe carried Without discomfort in ones pocket. Other advantages will readily-annear to those versed in the art inthe light o m d s l e, h r

While I have described my invention in detail, it; will be understood that, no unnecessary limitations are to be read thereinto, the scope ofg'the invention being pointed out in the appended claims. s i What I claim as new'and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. Aocontainer which is adapted to hold a pack.- age of cigarettes and a book of matches, said container being formed from two blank members made of flexible thermoplastic sheet. material, the: first of saidblank members comprising a gen, erallyrectangular portion, an elongated match book-cover-forming flap extending from one end 'of said-rectangular portion and a cigarette package cover-forn'iing flap extending-from the other end oftsaid rectangular portion, said rectangula -portion being slightly wider than said, flaps 5.0315 to. provide side extensions on said rectangularjportion, said. rectangular portion being of 115F length thansaid match book coverior. ins fla th s co of s d b n r w he w th of the rectan la port on as blank; mante -2 seidisecond blank The outer surfaces, which face the elec h n a width subs ntia ly c ed:-.

It maybe 4 member having a length approximately equal to the length of said side extensions and being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said elongated match book cover-forming flap being folded over to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near 'itsfree end to said second blank; by one part of arette package cover-forming flap.

2. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes and a book of matches, said container being formed from two blank members, made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members compris ing a generallyrectangular portion, an elongated match book cover-forming flapextending iron; one end of said rectangular portion and a cigarette package cover-forming flap, extending from the other end of said rectangular portion, said flaps being of substantially equal width and said rectangular portion being slightly. wider thansaid flaps so as to provide sidewextcnsigns on said rectangular portion, said rectangular. portion being: greater in length than said cigarette cover-forming flap and lesserinlengththansaid match book cover-formingflap, the second of said blank members being generally rectangularwith the exception of one side which is. double=arcuate in shape and has a centrally depressed portion, said second blank member having a Width sub-.- stantially exceeding the width of therectangur lar portion of said first blank member, said second .blank member having a length approxi, mately equal to, the length of said, sidefextem sions andbeing heat-sealed at its opposed long-i: tudinal edgesv to said side extensionsv to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said elongated match book cover-forming. flap being folded over to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a snapvfastener, an open,- ended pocket being formed between 'the outer surface of said second blank member and the inner surface of said elongated match book CQY. er-forming member for the reception of a match book, and the other part of said snap fastener being attached to the cigarette packagev cover-,- forming flap.

3. A container which is adaptedto hold a package of cigarettes and a, book of matches, said container being formed from two blank members made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members com;- prising a generally rectangular portion, an elonrgated match book cover-forming flap extending from one end of said rectangular portion and a cigarette package cover-forming flap extending from the other end of said rectangular portion, said flaps being of substantially equal-width and said rectangular portion being slightly wider thansaid flaps so as to provide side extensions on said rectangular portion, said rectangular portion being greater in length than cigarette cover-forming flap and lesser in length than said match book cover-forming flap, the second of said blank members having awidth sub,- s n a ly ing the i h o he r ct gu Por i o aid rst blank mem e sa second blank member having a length 'approxj i el-y equal to the length of said side extensions and being heat-sealed .at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said elongated match book cover-forming flap being folded over to form the bottom of said pocket and bc ing connected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a two-part fastener, an open-ended pocket being formed between the outer surface of said second blank member and the inner surface of said elongated match book cover-forming member for the reception of a match book, and the other and cooperating part of said fastener being attached to the cigarette package cover-forming flap.

4. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes, said container being formed from two blank members made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members comprising a generally rectangular portion, a first flap extending from one end of said rectangular portion and a second flap extending from the other end of said rectangular portion, said flaps being of substantially equal width and said rectangular portion being slightly wider than said fiaps so as to provide side extensions on said rectangular portion, said rectangular portion being greater in length than said second flap and lesser in length than said first flap, the second of said blank members having a width substantially exceeding the width of the rectangular portion of said first blank member, said second blank member having a length approximately equal to the length of said side extensions and being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said first fiap being folded over the top surface of said second blank member whereby to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, said Docket being open-ended to accommodate the insertion of a match book from either side, and the other part of said snap fastener being attached to said second flap.

5. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes, said container being formed from two blank members made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank rrembers comprising a generally rectangular portion, a first flap extending from one end of said rectangular portion and a second flap extending from the other end of said rectangular portion, said flaps being of substantially equal width and said rectangular portion being slightly wider than said flaps so as to provide side extensions on said rectangular portion, the second of said blank members having a width substantially exceeding the width of the rectangular portion of said first blank member, said second blank member being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said first flap being folded over the top surface of said second blank member whereby to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, said pocket being open-ended to accommodate the insertion of a match book from either side, and the other part of said snap fastener being attached to said second flap.

6. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes, said container being formed from two blank members made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members comprising a four-sided portion, a first flap extending from one end of said foursided portion and a second flap extending from the other end of said four-sided portion, said flaps being of substantiall equal width and said four-sided portion at its greatest width being slightly wider than at least one of said flaps so as to provide side extensions on said four-sided portion, the second of said blank members having a Width substantially exceeding the width of the widest part of said four-sided portion of said first blank member, said second blank member being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said first flap being folded over the top surface of said second blank member whereby to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, said pocket being open-ended to accommodate the insertion of a match book from either side, and the other part of said snap fastener being attached to said second flap.

'7. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes and a book of matches, said container being formed from two blank members made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members comprising a four-sided portion, an elongated match book cover-forming flap extending from one end of said four-sided portion and a cigarette package cover-forming fiap extending from the other end of said four-sided portion, said foursided portion at its widest dimension having a width not less than the width of either of said flaps whereby to provide extensions at two opposing sides on said four-sided portion, said four-sided portion being greater in length than said cigarette cover-forming flap and lesser in length than said match book cover-forming flap, the second of said blank members being generally rectangular with the exception of one side which is double arcuate in shape and has a centrally depressed portion, said second blank member having a width substantially exceeding the greatest width of the four-sided portion of said first blank member, said second blank member being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said elongated match book cover-forming flap being folded over to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, an open-ended pocket being formed between the outer surface of said second blank member and the inner surface of said elongated match book cover-forming member for the reception of a match book, and the other part of said snap fastener being attached to the cigarette package cover-forming flap,

EDWARD S. CALDWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,388,073 Stewart Aug. 16, 1921 2,149,030 Moore Feb. 28, 1939 2,413,580 Perry Dec. 31, 1946 

